Paterson looking to outside contractor for pothole relief

PATERSON – The city is looking to hire a private company to help fill potholes created during the stormy winter.

At present, Paterson has one crew of three or four full-time public works employees fixing the many potholes around the city, said the department’s director, Christopher Coke. Restrictions in union contracts as well as staff shortages stemming from the city’s 2011 layoffs have made it difficult to add workers to pot-hole duty, Coke said.

“They’re moving at an extremely slow pace right now,” said Councilman Julio Tavarez, chairman of the public works committee. “They’ll be done by September. That’s not going to work.”

Coke said his staff has not yet quantified the extent of Paterson’s pothole problem. “Last year was more than 35,000 square feet, this year it’s at least that,” Coke said.

Moreover, Coke said there are often lines of trucks waiting for asphalt used to fill potholes at the Haledon-based company where Paterson gets its supply.

The City Council on Tuesday is scheduled to vote to seek bids from private companies that Paterson would use to supplement its in-house pothole repair crew.